Though he played just one half of football and was considered non-contact, as he was wearing a green jersey as opposed to his team's white jerseys, Oregon Ducks wide receiver Evan Stewart was far and away the most impressive player on the field during the program's 2026 spring game on Saturday, resulting in him coming away with Ducks Wire's MVP award.
What made it even more impressive is that this was Stewart's first live action play in front of fans in roughly a year, as he missed the entire 2025 season with a torn patellar tendon in which he was expected to be the No. 1 target on the outside. When those plans were shattered, Stewart opted to return to Eugene for one more season, using a medical redshirt.
But his re-entry into the Ducks' passing attack comes with questions, as 2025 five-star receiver Dakorien Moore established himself as the No. 1 receiver for much of last season. Redshirt sophomore Jeremiah McClellan also stepped in and made numerous highlight reel-caliber plays, while several other former blue-chip recruits line the receiver room.
While we'll still have to wait and see if Stewart is the leading receiver come the fall, he burst back onto the scene with arguably the best performance on Saturday — out of anyone, not just other wide receivers.
The highlight of the game was Stewart's 76-yard touchdown reception on a pass from transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola, acting as both a reminder of Stewart's talents and an introduction of Raiola, who comes over from Nebraska and is a former five-star.
The Fighting Ducks answer quickly on a strike from Dylan Raiola to Evan Stewart!#GoDucks x @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/n9FZWI9Oht
By halftime, Stewart had caught four passes for 110 yards and that long touchdown, also showing off his fluid route-running abilities on several out-breaking routes along the sidelines. He was a trusted target for both Combat Ducks quarterbacks Raiola and Brock Thomas, living up to the bill of being a No. 1 receiver and a potential first-rounder come the 2027 NFL Draft.
In the second half, pass rushers Beau Dantzler and Aydin Breland impressed, recording multiple sacks apiece, making a run at the MVP. Dakorien Moore also had a shot, as he scored the game-winning touchdown and was over 100 receiving yards, but this was Stewart's day. In his return in front of fans at Autzen Stadium, he stole the show in the first half and did enough to come away with Ducks Wire's MVP award for the 2026 spring game.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon WR Evan Stewart earns Ducks Wire MVP honors in 2026 spring game